The real crisis is seniors

Skyrocketing rents and dwindling affordable housing are driving seniors to the brink of homelessness.

The high rents are forcing seniors on fixed incomes to make the choice of paying their rent or eating – 144,790 seniors in B.C. faced unaffordable housing costs in 2016, and 6,000 seniors are on the B.C. Housing list for subsidized housing, up 58 per cent in five years.

I am a senior, and I live in a condo in the Agassiz Road area, where B.C. Housing with the help of the City of Kelowna and John Howard Society are proposing to build another supportive housing complex for the homeless.

The first anyone in our neighborhood heard about this was through a flyer in our mailbox. While reading the information supplied, we all noticed these were studio apartments suitable for one person, not a family in need of help. Then we were invited to the Sandman Inn to learn more about this proposal.

They were prepared for us and ready with their generic answers to our questions. They did a lot of talking, but never directly answered our questions.

John Howard informed us they support those with mental illnesses, addictions, and people with developmental disabilities. It was much later that we found out this would be a “wet facility," where illicit drugs are allowed to be used on site.

It doesn't take much thought to figure out where they are finding people to fill these places. Downtown Kelowna does need to be cleaned up.

Our area around Agassiz Road is mostly seniors, a majority are women. They are already fearful about going out as there are so many undesirables. We have been made to appear heartless when it comes to the homeless, but I can assure you we all have a great deal of compassion for them.

We keep being told to give it up, it's a done deal, but our mayor has assured us there will be two public hearings about rezoning prior to any decision being made. We keep hoping that council and B.C. Housing will listen to our concerns.

Agassiz Road is just not the right location. Change the plans to make it a facility for the working poor, low-income seniors, single moms and dads trying to stretch their paycheque to last the month and, yes, even women or men in an abusive relationship. Just don't put people with addictions in our quiet, little neighbourhood. 

Jeri Truman, Kelowna